2024-07-31 12:20:51
He Draft Organic Law for the Promotion, Protection and Defense of Non-Human Animals could bring with it considerable economic losses for different productive sectors.
And the proposed regulations introduce practices under the premise of protect animal rightswhich according to the productive unions would hinder productive activity and increase prices for final consumers.
“If we are talking about USD 1 per liter of milk, we would be going up to USD 3 from the start,” says Rodrigo Gómez de la Torre, an agricultural analyst.
They point out that the bill that was prepared by the Ombudsman’s Office, with the support of 44 animal rights associationsdoes not have technical support.
And at the discretion of the Food industryhas extreme positions such as not using antibiotics or antimicrobials that guarantee that the product consumed is not harmful to the health of the person who ingests it; The use of technology that improves productivity is prohibited and reduce production costs.
The cost of animal products would increase with the law
If this law were to be applied, the cost of a large part of animal products would increase. Industrialists point out that this value is supported and that it can be seen today.
“When we see a bucket of eggs for USD 4 and we see the bucket of eggs with romantic terminology of happy hens that costs USD 12, then the three times is not an assumption,” adds Rodrigo Gómez de la Torre.
This increase would put at risk the provision and consumption of nutritional sources for humans. According to INEC, 12% of the basic food basket is made up of foods derived from animals.
But not only would the food industry be affected by this law, the effect would also have negative impacts on other sectors, such as the commercial sector.
“Restaurants, hotel chains, catering and Ecuadorian families in general would have a product necessary for their food and nutrition with much higher values,” explains Gabriela Uquillas, Chamber of Commerce.
The tourism sector is also affectedthe provisions of the project in practice prohibit sport fishing, horseback riding, and the Montubio rodeo. And The manufacturing industry would also be affected..
“And since there is a ban on the use of by-products such as leather, wool, skins and others, the leather industry disappearsand the wool industry would disappear as well,” says Rodrigo Gómez de la Torre, who was president of the Chamber of Agriculture.
In summary One and a half million jobs would be at risk If this law is approved, various productive unions maintain.